"Choose Him"
- Mar 7, 2025
- 6 min read
We’re coming to the end of this story. We need to ask, what does this story teach about Jesus and about me?
He is God on earth. He is one who can walk over the top of the chaos and He sets the boundaries for even the most violent storms of life. Look...
Matthew 14: 32: “And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’”
"And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down." Even though Peter’s faith was “little” in actions, he still ended up saved. When we look to Jesus and 'choose Him' He won’t let us down or drown, even having seen our doubts and our weaknesses. Whether you’re walking on water or sitting in the boat, the main point is that you’re listening to the Word of Jesus and finding comfort in knowing He,‘the Son of God’, is there for you.
I have often wondered about the eleven disciples being left in the boat. What did they think? How did they react to Peter getting out of the boat to be with Jesus? When all was said and done, all the disciples were caught up in the amazing response: "Those who were in the boat worshipped him." Also, they all ended up at their destination as Jesus said they would do at the very start. See verse 22: "get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side." The point isn’t, “how do I walk on water,” but actually, “how do I get across the lake?” The answer is that you simply trust Jesus and His word, you 'choose Him.'
Back on board despite the storm!
John Ortberg said the eleven other disciples were "boat potatoes." They did not want to run the risk. They did not want to experience the fear.
The Bible says they worshiped Him when He got in the boat and the wind had died down. They hadn’t got to the other of the lake but they got to the other side of the storm.
I find this a challenge!
How often is worship left until after the storm, or you’re through that troubling issue, or when that relationship is restored, or you’ve had that answer to prayer? Why don’t we worship Him while we're still in it? When was the last time you praised Him in the middle of the storm or in the middle of the night?
Paul and Silas knew! See Acts 16:25-26. When did Paul and Silas start to sing? At midnight! They were in the inner cell, their feet in the stocks but they were praying and singing hymns to God. Wow!
We’ve so often downsized God, reducing Him to the size of the problem rather than address the problem through truly knowing how big our God is!
John Ortberg says, “The ultimate freedom that you have, the freedom no one can take away from you is the freedom to decide what your mind will dwell on. I set my mind to look for the presence and goodness of God in my life.”
“Choose Him!”
I wonder whether the disciples that had been left in the boat, when they retold the story to their friends and family, did they talk about surviving or thriving? Were they simply in awe and wonder knowing He is ‘the Son of God’ and His kingdom had come?
NT Wright says: “When Jesus began announcing the kingdom and calling people to repent and believe, he wasn’t offering them a ticket to heaven; he was telling them that the long-awaited moment had arrived when Israel’s God would become king and that they were invited to be not just spectators but participants.”
The disciples in the boat had become ‘participants’ in the wonder-working power of Jesus and His Kingdom.
Two things happened when Jesus climbed into the boat...
The ‘wind died down.’
The wind – see verses 24 & 30, and now in verse 32.
The thing that caused such havoc, collectively (v24) and personally (v30), was now gone (v32)! As soon as Jesus, with His calm, peaceful loving response, entered the boat, the wind died down. Here was yet more proof of who Jesus is and the power He has to change situations.
Verse 32 is a tremendous verse. Jesus begins to restore peace on earth and in their lives. He simply banishes fear by His very presence.
It's the same with us, when Jesus climbs into our life circumstances we will always get the help we need.
The disciples bow down.
Think about all that the disciples had experienced during this twenty-four-hour encounter with Jesus. They watched Him feed over 15,000 people. They saw Jesus walk on water. They heard Him declare His oneness with God Almighty when He said, “I am who I am.” They saw Peter do something that was totally impossible. They watched as Jesus saved Peter. And they saw that the wind died down as soon as Jesus got in the boat. They responded the only way they knew how in verse 33: “Then those in the boat worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.” They “Chose Him!”
Just think, it’s Christ alone that redeems, delivers, transforms lives… not by wise and persuasive techniques, but by a demonstration of His power (1 Cor 2:4). He is with you right now in ‘your boat!’
When was the last time you saw HIM and knew His Glory, His Power and His Call, causing you to fall before Him in adoration, worship and praise?
We can’t do anything else but, when we’re in the presence of God.
Joe Stowell, the president of Moody Bible Institute, says “that impression must always precede expression.’ We don’t worship just to express ourselves. We worship as a result of being impressed with the awesomeness of God. Our expression then must flow out of impression. The disciples were certainly impressed.”
The result, they worshipped Him.
Billy Graham said, “Christianity is not a spectator sport. It's something in which we become totally involved.”
Interestingly, Peter’s experience turned out to be a blessing to the other disciples as well as to himself. When they saw the power of Jesus, in conquering and calming the storm, their walk of faith was continuing to grow. Why do I say this?
When Jesus calmed the storm in Matthew 8:23-27, the disciples said, “What kind of Man is this?” But now their clear testimony was, “Truly you are the Son of God!” Truth dawning! It's the heart and mind seeing and appreciating who God is and the amazing love that He has for us.
It’s when you get to that point like the disciples, you can’t help yourself! They are in awe of His power, and they break into worship. This is the natural response of those who have come face-to-face with who Jesus is.
He takes our doubting hearts, and He transforms them. The presence of Jesus stirred within the men, the proper response, the response God delights in, is not fright but astonished, humble, heartfelt and spontaneous worship.
Do you see it? Look at the Cross of Calvary and the sufferings of the Son of Man. Do you see it?! Do you get it? Do you understand!! It was for you, for YOU He gave His life, shed His blood. He who knew no sin became sin! For you He suffered! For YOU He died!
Rick Warren said, "What gives me the most hope every day is God’s grace; knowing that his grace is going to give me the strength for whatever I face, knowing that nothing is a surprise to God."
If you want to trust Jesus and walk with Him, you’ve got to make the next move - “Choose Him!”
In what area of life are you shrinking back from fully and courageously trusting God? A good indication will be your fears! Your fears will tell you what it is, and leaving such may be the hardest thing you ever do.
The challenge - lose your religion; choose your relationship. Choose HIM!
You see, there’s got to be MORE! Look at it another way. What’s holding you back from fully worshipping Him as the ‘Son of God?’
Your daily work? Stuck at a dead-end job for years and afraid you’ve missed your calling, but you just can’t leave!
A relationship? Been together for as long as you can remember but you’re still afraid of commitment, and too timid to confront it.
It’s a secret! Just so worried that that it might be taking over your life. You, however, are in denial, especially if anybody asks.
Sometimes we get too discouraged and weary, and we feel we can’t put up with all the stress and strain any longer. What must we do?
Above all, DON'T give in, “Choose Him!”
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